Companion Plant with Broccoli
If you love growing your own vegetables, you probably already know that broccoli can be a bit tricky. It's basically a magnet for pests, it takes up a lot of space, and it needs nutrient-rich soil to thrive. But don’t worry—companion planting can make your broccoli-growing experience a whole lot easier!
By choosing the right plants to grow alongside your broccoli, you can keep pests away, maximize space in your garden, and improve nutrient availability. Let’s dive into the best companion plants for broccoli, plus what to avoid and some helpful tips to boost your broccoli yield.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is a gardening strategy to manage pests without pesticides and improve plant health by planting and growing different types of crops near one another. Besides conferring certain benefits, good companions should prefer growing in the same season and under the same general conditions.
For the most part, companion planting tips are based on gardeners' observations, not scientific evidence. That's why you might come across some contradictory advice. There is, however, plenty of data to suggest that companion planting can boost the overall health and productivity of your garden.
Benefits of Companion Planting for Broccoli
Companion planting benefits your overall garden space, broccoli plants included. Here are some of the benefits of planting broccoli near good neighbors:
- REPEL PESTS NATURALLY - Broccoli is a favorite snack for pests like aphids, flea beetles, cabbage loopers, and cabbageworms. Fortunately, some plants—especially strong-smelling herbs and flowers—can repel these pests naturally and protect your broccoli from damage. Other plants help by attracting pests away from your broccoli.
- ATTRACT BENEFICIAL INSECTS - Certain plants attract pest predators like ladybugs and hoverflies. The more beneficial insects you have in your garden, the fewer pests you'll have munching on your broccoli and the healthier your crop will be.
- DETER WILDLIFE - Strong-smelling vegetables like onions and garlic nearby can help keep wildlife like deer and rabbits away.
- IMPROVE SOIL NUTRIENTS & ENHANCE GROWTH - Some plants, like legumes, enrich the soil and make nutrients more bioavailable for your broccoli to thrive.
- SHADE THE SOIL - Low-growing plants like lettuce and spinach act as a living mulch, which keeps the soil moist, reduces weeds, and protects broccoli roots from extreme heat.
- USE SPACE EFFICIENTLY - Since broccoli grows wide and has deep roots, it pairs well with plants that stay low to the ground or have shallow roots.
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Best Companion Plants for Broccoli
Here are some of the best choices to help your broccoli thrive.
Plants That Prevent Pests
Aromatic herbs, alliums, and nectar-rich flowers are three key plant groups when it comes to controlling pests in your vegetable garden.
The Best Herbs to Grow with Broccoli
Many herbs naturally repel common garden pests with their scent. Some herbs are also said to improve broccoli growth. Consider planting:
- Chives – This perennial herb deters pests ranging from aphids to rabbits.
- Dill – The smell of dill keeps away cabbage worms, and its flowers attract tons of beneficial insects.
- Mint – This perennial herb attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs while repelling pests like flea beetles and cabbage flies. (Note: plant mint in its own container near your broccoli to control its spread.)
- Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, & Thyme – The strong scents of these perennial herbs deter many pests. Studies have found that sage and thyme reduce populations of the moths that lay cabbageworm eggs on brassicas. Thyme has also been shown to reduce damage from cabbage loopers.
Pro Tip: Let at least some of your herbs flower. Beneficial insects are drawn to dill flowers, chive blossoms, and more.
The Best Alliums to Grow with Broccoli
Garlic and onions have been scientifically shown to repel many pests that are common on brassica plants (including aphids, snails, flea beetles, and even deer) with their strong smell. Garlic can also prevent fungal diseases from spreading in the soil.
If you don't want to grow full bulbs, try chives, which have the same odor.
The Best Flowers to Grow with Broccoli
Many flowers can repel pests with their strong scents, while still attracting tons of beneficial insects with their nectar-rich blooms. Other flowers act as trap crops by luring pests away from your veggies. Here are the best flowers to grow near broccoli:
- Calendula – This cool-season flower acts as a trap crop by luring aphids away from broccoli.
- Marigolds – This flowering herb repels nematodes, aphids, and cabbage worms while attracting beneficial insects.
- Chamomile – Chamomile's daisy-like flowers attract ladybugs, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps. This flowering herb thrives in cool weather.
- Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums act as a trap crop by luring aphids away from broccoli. If you grow trailing nasturtium, you can also use the leaves as ground cover to shade the soil around broccoli.
Space-Saving Companion Plants
If you have limited garden space, these plants grow well with broccoli and don’t compete for nutrients:
- Lettuce & Spinach – These small leafy greens grow low to the ground, which can keep the soil nice and cool for your broccoli plants. In return, they benefit from shade cast by broccoli's wide canopy, which can prevent bolting in warm weather. Lettuce and spinach grow best in nice, cool weather.
- Beets – This root crop needs more underground space, so it won't interfere with broccoli’s growth above the soil line. Beets thrive in the same cool weather as broccoli. Bonus: harvest some beet greens and broccoli leaves for a tasty and nutritious spring salad.
- Garlic, Onions, & Shallots – The underground growth of garlic, onions, and shallots complements the aboveground growth of broccoli.
Plants That Improve Growth or Flavor
- Chamomile – This flowering herb is said to improve the flavor of broccoli while attracting pollinators. Harvest some chamomile flowers for cozy chamomile tea.
- Peas & Beans – Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting broccoli’s growth.
- Celery – This veggie is said to enhance the flavor of broccoli growing nearby.
- Onions – Some gardeners swear that onions can improve the flavor of broccoli growing nearby.
Worst Broccoli Companions
Not all plants make good neighbors. Some compete for nutrients, attract the same pests, or take up too much space.
Large or Spreading Plants
Some plants take up so much space that they can block sunlight or overcrowd your broccoli. Avoid planting broccoli near these space-hogging plants:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Squash
- Eggplant
Heavy Feeders
These crops require a lot of nutrients, leaving little for your broccoli:
- Corn
- Pumpkins, Cantaloupe, & Watermelon
- Asparagus
- Fennel
- Strawberries
Other Brassicas
Broccoli is an allellopathic plant, meaning it releases chemicals that can actually stunt the growth of certain plants growing nearby. In this case, it tries to prevent competition from other brassicas. In addition to competing for nutrients, brassicas also tend to all attract the same pests. Other brassicas include:
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Bok choy
- Kale
It's still possible to grow broccoli and other brassicas in your vegetable garden at the same time. Just give them some space and make sure to add plenty of herbs and flowers to control pests.
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Companion Plants for Other Types of Broccoli
Other broccoli varieties have similar requirements for companions. Here are the best companion plants for each variety.
Broccoli Rabe
Chinese Broccoli
Romanesco
Tips for Successful Companion Planting with Broccoli
- GIVE BROCCOLI SPACE: Allow 18 inches between broccoli plants for proper growth and air circulation. You can still interplant smaller things like herbs, lettuce, and compact flowers around broccoli. My goal is to not see any bare soil about 6 weeks after planting my garden.
- GROW WHAT YOU'LL USE: Narrow down companion planting lists by looking for things that you actually enjoy eating. Fast-growing herbs and leafy greens are great because they'll give you harvests while you're waiting on your broccoli head to mature.
- EXPECT TO LEARN: Gardening is full of wins and lessons. Treat each season as an experiment, and be ready to adjust as needed.
- HARVEST BROCCOLI GREENS: Regularly harvest those lower, outer broccoli leaves from your plants. Not only are these leaves full of nutrients, but removing them ensures plants growing around your broccoli have plenty of airflow. Leave your broccoli plants in the garden once you've harvested the main head. You might get several side shoots afterward.
- PRIORITIZE FULL SUN: Make sure your broccoli plants are receiving full sun, proper watering, and plenty of nutrients. Learn more about growing broccoli.
Learn more about growing broccoli
Growing Broccoli in Containers
I actually grow most of my broccoli in large wooden planters. If you want to grow broccoli in a container, make sure you pick something at least 5-gallons to allow for proper root growth. Fill your container with well-drained soil (like potting soil mixed with coarse sand and compost). Set your container somewhere it'll receive full sun.
Pair container-grown broccoli with shallow-rooted plants like lettuce and spinach to maximize space.
Check on the moisture level in your container frequently. Smaller spaces will dry out faster than the rest of your garden.
Note: broccoli companions don't necessarily need to be growing in the same container or raised bed to produce benefits. Flowers can impact pest populations on plants within a 50-foot range!
FAQs About Companion Planting with Broccoli
Can you plant broccoli next to carrots?
Carrots and broccoli don’t compete for nutrients and make good companions for spring and fall gardening.
Does broccoli need a trellis?
Broccoli grows wide, so it can benefit from some support. Instead of trellising, staking can prevent top-heavy broccoli plants from leaning or falling over.
Can I plant lettuce and broccoli together?
Lettuce and broccoli are great neighbors. Lettuce thrives in broccoli’s shade and helps keep the soil cool. Lettuce has a shallow root system that won't interfere with broccoli roots.
Should broccoli and cauliflower be planted together?
These two plants are not an ideal combination. They're so similar that they compete for nutrients and attract the same pests.
How much space does broccoli need?
Each broccoli plant should be about 18 inches apart. You can plant lower-growing herbs, flowers, and leafy greens around the base of your broccoli plants to shade the soil and provide pest control benefits.
Surround Broccoli with Good Companions
Companion planting is a game-changer for growing healthy, pest-free broccoli. By choosing the right neighbors, you’ll improve your garden’s productivity while reducing the need for pesticides.
Ready to start planting? Pick a few companion plants from this list and experiment to see what works best in your garden. When in doubt, go with chives and nasturtiums, two of my all-time favorites.
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